`Democracy Over Tyranny, Pluralism Over Uniformity'

Jewish Group Marks Centennial

Jewish leader David Harris mixed politics and religion, hope and warning Sunday at the kickoff of the centennial celebration for the American Jewish Committee.

Harris, AJC executive director, reviewed accomplishments and threats at the meeting at the Boca Raton Marriott. Accomplishments included securing rights for Catholics, helping build a school in India and aiding Kosovar refugees. Threats counted Iran's nuclear buildup and terrorism against the United States and Israel.

"AJC has stood for democracy over tyranny, pluralism over uniformity, moderation over extremism," he said. "The ultimate guarantor of Jewish rights is the nurturing of democratic values, the respect for the rule of law and the pursuit of justice.

"We have never been only about ourselves."

Harris gave his speech at a brunch organized by the Palm Beach County AJC, the first of the 33 chapters to celebrate the milestone. Founded in 1906, AJC claims to be the oldest Jewish human relations group.

Cengiz said he was there to emphasize the social and political ties of the two nations. Harris told his 250 listeners some achievements of the organization created to help refugees from the pogroms in eastern Europe. Just five years later, AJC opposed discrimination against minorities in New York.

AJC was also instrumental in having a human rights statement added to the United Nations charter, Harris said. In recent years, he added, the organization has sent aid to tsunami victims in India, and to reconstruction on the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina.

But the next few years will be "daunting," Harris said, especially given America's dependence on oil from states like Saudi Arabia, which he said oppose American values. And Iran's growing ability to make nuclear fuel "should be enough to send shivers down the spine of everyone here," he said.

Harris also cited "demographic challenges" of immigration to the United States and the need to maintain a "strong, healthy, pluralistic America." Finally, he urged his listeners several times to maintain "solidarity" between Israel and the United States.

"Do whatever you can to promote understanding of Israel to your friends and elected officials," said Harris, who wrote a booklet on the Middle East conflict that was given to the participants on Sunday. "Israel wants peace, but it can't make peace alone."

The belief that all humans are created b'tselem Elohim, "in the image of God," is "perhaps the most revolutionary contribution of the Jewish people to world civilization," he suggested.

"It says that whatever your language or color, or house of worship you attend -- or don't attend -- you are equal before God," Harris said.

James D. Davis can be reached at jdavis@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4730.